10 African Countries With Vision Plans That Will Dramatically Transform Them In The Next 10 Years

Africa as a continent is thriving. It is rising. That can be seen in the vision plans that its many countries have. Some have come a long way in the implementation of their vision plans. Back in May 2000, The Economist published an article “Hopeless Africa”, focusing on how the continent was struggling with malaria, effects from colonialism and the 19th-century slave trade. It started off by painting a scarring picture of Freetown, which served as a haven for former slaves who came from the Americas and Britain. Part of the article read,

“At the start of the 21st century, Freetown symbolizes failure and despair. The capital of Sierra Leone may be less brutalized than some other parts of the country, but its people are nonetheless physically and psychologically scarred by years of warfare, and this week they had to watch as foreign aid workers were pulled out.”

Surprisingly, eleven years later, the same media published an article, “Africa Rising”. However, this time, they are praising the growing economy, foreign investments, and growing democracies. In fact, in 2019, both Nigeria and South Africa had democratic elections, which symbolized the sustainable future of the continent. There is also a promising path towards the free trade area in Africa. Also, the continent is making major strides in developmental initiatives and mega projects.

We have put together the 10 African countries with vision plans that will significantly change them in the next decade. Here are some of the major plans.

10. Côte d’Ivoire Vision 2040

Abidjan / Photo: Courtesy

The West African country has a vision plan set for 2040. It reads: “Côte d’Ivoire, an industrial power, united in its cultural diversity, democratic and open to the world.” In a bid to open up the country to the world, it has invested 5.8 billion dollars to transform its tourism industry. Therefore, it appears the World Bank’s 2020 prediction that the country will be “an emerging country” is materializing. Also, the IMF labeled it as Africa’s fastest-growing economy in 2016. Clearly, Côte d’Ivoire is on track in terms of economic progress. Thus, its current trend will be instrumental in its success in the next decade.

When the African Development Bank moved back its headquarters from Tunisia to Abidjan in 2014, that also marked a major step for the country. With huge resources to produce electricity—including some for export—the country is destined for major industrial advancement.

As part of the 2040 masterplan, the government has introduced free and compulsory education for all children up to 16 years. This happened back in 2015. Consequently, the major impact was seen as net education went from 68% to 87% within a year. Pregnancy in school has also dropped by 25% generally and by 87% in primary school. Here’s more information about the masterplan.

9. Ghana Vision 2020

A SkyTrain / Photo: Courtesy

Back in 1995, the country convened a 2020 development plan. Constructing the continent’s first Sky Train was the most ambitious part of that vision plan. The 2.6 billion dollar project was announced at the Africa Investment Forum in South Africa in 2019 by president Nana Akufo-Addo. Also, the government has invested in a network of roads, railways, and bridges with funding from China. Consequently, the overall goal is ensuring that there is smooth transportation of edibles and minerals like bauxite. These infrastructural investments will boost the economy a great deal in the coming decade.

Ghana is also making progress in the health sector. According to recent research, the country was the first in Africa to be declared trachoma free. Between 2000 and 2017, there was a 93% reduction in the prevalence of onchocerciasis. This will offset a major health burden. Thus, there will be more funds for other developmental purposes.

Also, the vision plan recognizes the fact that rural areas are overlooked in favor of urban settlements when budgeting for national development. It called for policies that would accelerate rural growth by addressing the lack of balance in investment. Overall, the plan also addresses environmental degradation, international cooperation, export markets, as well as a decentralization of public administration.

With more technological innovation, globalization and a robust youthful population, Ghana is poised for a successful decade ahead. We recommend you check out the vision plan in detail.

8. Tanzania’s Vision 2025

Stiegler’s Gorge / Photo: Courtesy

Tanzania has a vision plan set for 2025. The plan, which was conceived in 1995 focuses on “nurturing industrialization for economic transformation and human development”. It is keen on getting rid of poverty. Former President Benjamin Mkapa shared a striking vision with his fellow Tanzanians in a dreamy-yet-attainable fashion. The statement through Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads,

“The basic issues in the development Vision are elaborated in six areas. First is an elaboration of the concept and scope of national development vision. This part describes attributes our country is expected to have attained by the year 2025. These include people having attained a high quality of life; peace, tranquillity and national unity; good governance; an educated society imbued with an ambition to develop; and an economy which is competitive with sustained growth for the benefit of all people.”

The vision was passed on to subsequent presidents. A notable action by the government includes the resurrection of Air Tanzania with state funding to the tune of 434.79 million dollars. There is also the Stigler’s Gorge Project which is a 2,100 Megawatts hydro-electric dam. Controversially, the country also conceived its SGR project which is funded by Standard Chartered Bank at 1.46 billion dollars. This should have been an extension of the Kenyan line through the country. However, the railway will link the country to Uganda and Rwanda. Subsequently, this will give Kenya stiff competition in the transportation game. Also, the country has a peaceful climate for business and well being for its citizens, thus, setting an example in East Africa.

7. Mauritius’s Vision 2030

Apartment complex in Mauritius. / Photo: Courtesy

The island nation is one of the best performing economies in Africa. It has its own exciting prospects in its vision for the year 2030. As of 2017, the Vision 2030 blueprint revealed that the country “tops African countries in a plethora of lists: it is ranked 45th out of 138 economies in the 2016–2017 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, 49th out of 189 economies for Ease of Doing Business according to the 2016 World Bank report, and 15th out of 178 countries in the Heritage Foundation’s 2016 Index of Economic Freedom.”

In the last decade, the country attracted over 3 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI). The United States, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa are lead investors. The country is now an upper-middle-class with a well-defined and decentralized economy. However, its emphasis is on building villas for its citizens in this mega project.

The latest development is the Mont Choisy Le Parc, a 200 residential villas establishment aimed at foreigners and international investors. The project looks neat so far, with the apartment complex currently offering units for sale. On a wider scale, the country aims to maintain political stability, become a high-income nation, and launch several smart cities.

Mauritius’ financial sector is also growing rapidly. Its SMB Bank is expanding to other African countries, including Kenya, India, and Madagascar. The energy sector is also to watch. There is an ongoing plan to increase the usage of renewable sources to 35% by 2025. The ICT sector, which employs over 20,000 professionals in the country, has great potential.

This multi-faceted approach to growth will definitely propel Mauritius to even greater heights, as documented in its vision.

6. Kenya’s Vision 2030

The Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) / Photo: Courtesy

This vision plan is a 2008 brainchild of former president Mwai Kibaki. Consequently, the plan seeks to transform the East African nation into a middle-income country with a high quality of life. The focus of the project is on industrialization, with the emphasis being on a clean and secure environment. According to a UNESCO profile of the project,

“This vision will enrich Kenya’s international cooperation especially in all aspects related to information and transfer of technology. The policy will ensure that national heritage in all their forms are preserved, enhanced and handed over to future generations as a record of human experience and aspirations, so as to foster creativity in all its diversity and to inspire genuine dialogue among Kenya’s diverse cultures and beyond.”

Some of the megaprojects already completed include the 3.6 billion dollars standard gauge railway, Thika Super Highway among other ambitious projects. However, the country plans to invest in affordable housing projects—with major phases already completed—as well as food security and universal health care. These are in advanced implementation stages.

According to predictions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kenya, which is East Africa’s biggest economy—having recently overtaken Ethiopia—will maintain this position to at least 2024. Economic growth hit 105 billion dollars in 2019 from the previous 97 billion dollars. Also, the ICT sector is also booming with international tech companies—Uber, Google, Facebook, TrueCaller, Microsoft—setting up offices in the country’s capital, Nairobi.

5. Uganda Vision 2040

Nile Bridge / Photo: Courtesy

“A Transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to a Modern and Prosperous Country within 30 years”, reads the country’s Vision 2040 statement. The vision was revived in 2007. It plans to take advantage of opportunities like ICT, minerals, tourism, industrialization, among others.

Some of the key projects identified in the vision include the phosphate industry in Tororo, four international airports, iron ore in Muko and Kabale, Nuclear power and hydropower plants (Ayago, Isimba, Karuma, and Murchison Bay), a multi-lane national road network among other ambitious plans.

So far, the country has had major infrastructure projects, including the New Nile Bridge in Jinja, Mulago Maternal and Neonatal Hospital. Also, there is a newly launched Uganda Airlines. The country has also struck a deal with Kenya to have a dry port. This will see a wider volume of goods delivered from Mombasa to Kampala through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

Uganda produces enough food to cater for its population and export. In 2017/2018, the country recorded the production of 2.5 billion liters of milk, thus, positioning itself as a leader in agriculture. However, there are still vast opportunities to tap into it in the next decade. As of 2019, Uganda recorded a 6.5% growth in its GDP, which is also an additional competitive advantage.

4. Ethiopia’s Vision 2025

An Ethiopians Airlines plane / Photo: Kenyan Wallstreet

The country’s vision seeks to encourage “strategic investment in infrastructure and production activities, especially in priority light manufacturing activities that links; agriculture, labor, export, and strategic support industries such as renewable energy.”

Some of the key targets include being a globally competitive country in export-oriented manufacturing, learning-by-doing and benchmarking with countries such as Mauritius, Singapore, and Japan as well as investing in more industrial parks across the country. After launching a humongous hotel in Addis Ababa, the Skylight Hotel, Ethiopian Airlines—the most profitable in Africa—is planning to build a 5 billion dollar airport. The government has made sure that the outfit, which contributes a major chunk of money to the economy is rising higher in profits. In 2019, the company recorded a 19 percent spike in profits.

However, the nation is also seeking to invest 7.5 billion dollars in completing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, sugar processing plants, textile factories, fertilizer production plants and many other mega projects. The next decade looks bright for the East African nation. To learn more about its ambitious plan, check out this World Trade Organization presentation.

3. Egypt: Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): Egypt Vision 2030

Construction ongoing at Egypt’s new capital.

According to a 2019 Foreign Policy article, “Egypt’s external debt at approximately 32 percent of GDP is well below the emerging markets average of 42 percent and much more favorable than most of its emerging peers.” The country has a robust growth vision plan for 2030, which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The vision, which is inspired by the country’s ancient civilization, is “taking into consideration the rights of new generations in a prosperous life, the SDS focuses on three main dimensions: economic, social, and environmental.” The plan seeks to

“Achieve a competitive, balanced, diversified and knowledge-based economy, characterized by justice, social integration, and participation, with a balanced and diversified ecosystem, benefiting from its strategic location and human capital to achieve sustainable development for a better life to all Egyptians.”

One of the reflections of its ambitious masterplan is the building of an entirely new capital city. The smart city is between the Nile and Suez Canal. It will have “a new parliament and presidential palace, Egypt’s largest airport, Africa’s tallest tower, the Middle East’s largest opera house, a $20bn entertainment district, and a giant urban park bigger than Central Park in New York.” This ambitious project is fast-tracking to completion

Some of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that the country has set is to have a GDP growth rate of 12% by 2030, Public Debt to GDP ratio of 75%, inflation rate of 3-5% from the current 11.8 percent and a female labor force participation of 35%. To get a more detailed overview, here’s the SDS document.

2. South Africa’s National Development Plan Vision 2030

A hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa / Photo Courtesy of Sandton City

The country’s plan “aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. South Africa can realize these goals by drawing on the energies of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capacity of the state, and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society.”

Some of the challenges the country is facing include a very low workforce, the education quality for black people is poor, high levels of corruption, uneven distribution and poor public service, among others. However, the country is making strides to tremendous growth.

South Africa is currently the second-best economy in Africa, just after Nigeria. However, it has since grown tremendously to position itself as an investment destination for foreign companies. Global fashion, luxury, tech, and consumer brands have their regional offices in South Africa. The nation has vibrant youths driving its creative economy. This is evident in the inclusive economy, quality life for all as well as the active citizenry.

South Africa’s vision plan is part of Gauteng’s plan to build thirty new cities, including John Dube, Daggafontein and Leeuwpoort. These three cities will have over 50,000 affordable housing units by 2021. The next decade will see the unveiling of more similar megaprojects. Nonetheless, these projects will cost over 6 billion dollars.

By 2030, the country wants to increase employment from 13 to 24 million, increase the share of national income of the bottom 40 percent from 6 percent to 10 percent, broaden ownership of assets to historically disadvantaged groups, make high-speed broadband internet universally available at competitive prices and much more. The masterplan is something you shouldn’t miss out on reading!

1. Rwanda Vision 2020

Rwanda’s vision plan includes human resource development and a knowledge-based economy, good governance and a capable state, private sector-led development, infrastructure development, and others. Some of the initial projections include a GDP growth rate of 9 percent, maintain a population growth rate of 2.7 percent, private investment of 8 percent to account for 20 percent of the GDP.

The country is one of Africa’s fastest-rising economies. Its smart-city project, Vision City, has amazing villas, free 4G LTE network coverage as well as solar-powered street lamps. This is part of the government’s focus on private-sector-led development. The country is also heavily investing in its ICT industry. In late 2019, there was a launch of Africa’s first mobile phone manufacturer.

Mara, the company behind this feat, already has full-scale production models that are on sale. President Paul Kagame is also seeking lots of partnerships for green growth and a circular economy. Consequently, the future of Rwanda in the next decade looks great. Here’s a deep dive into its masterplan.

Inasmuch as our list caps at 10, there are other African countries taking great strides towards development. However, if you know any other project in any African country that will be a gamechanger in the coming decade, let us know in the comment box. We anticipate your comment and contribution.